The Office of Attorney-General of the Federation has taken over the prosecution of a Lebanese national, Maged Ali-Taan, for alleged arson before a Kano Federal High Court.
The Managing Director of Alibert Products Nigeria Limited, Ali-Taan, alongside his employee, Mustapha Tiamiyu, are being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the Prosecution Counsel, Abdulkarim Alhassan, informed the court that the attorney-general of the federation would take over the prosecution of the case from the police.
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“We urge your lordship to allow the AGF to take over this case, pursuant to Section 174(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“My lord, I am also directed to withdraw the charge against the defendants, pending its review, pursuant to Section 108 of ACJL,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Defence Counsel, Yahaya Isa-Abdulrashid, did not oppose the application.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa, thereafter, granted the application and allowed the attorney-general of the federation to take over the case.
NAN reports that the court had, on January 17, dismissed the application filed by the Inspector-General of Police, seeking the withdrawal of the charges against the defendants.
The defendants were arraigned on three counts, bordering on conspiracy, arson and attempting to tamper with an electric transformer.
The defendants, being tenants at No. 5C, Murtala Muhammed Way, Kano, which they also used as a showroom, were said to have, on December 20, 2021, conspired and maliciously set fire to the said building.
The prosecution counsel said that in the process, Ali-Taan made a fraudulent insurance claim on the said building.
“The defendants also allegedly attempted to tamper with electric cables and transformers used for supplying electricity to the said building,” he said.
The offences, according to him, contravene the provisions of Sections 3(6), 1(4)(a) and 1(19)(a) of Miscellaneous Offences Act.
